Self-powered bicycle signal output device and display apparatus using same

• US 7,253,610 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2005
• Issued: 08/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: Nagae, Masayoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): LeDynh; Bot
• Application Number:
  US10/905,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20050156590A1
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 340/432, 340/441, 340/448, 340/463, 340466-467, 340/670, 340/671, 340/691.6, 340/693.1, 340/693.4, 324/167, 324/171, 324/174
• US Class Current: 324/174
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link

Abstract

A bicycle signal output device comprises a magnet structured to be mounted to one of a first part and a moving part of a bicycle, a coil structured to be mounted to the other one of the first part and the moving part of the bicycle, and a signal generating unit that operates using electrical power generated by the coil in response to relative motion between the magnet and the coil.

Claims

1. A bicycle signal output device comprising:

a magnet structured to be mounted to one of a first part and a moving part of a bicycle;

a coil structured to be mounted to the other one of the first part and the moving part of the bicycle to provide a signal in response to relative motion between the magnet and the coil;

a signal generating unit including a CPU, wherein operating power for the CPU is derived from the signal provided by the coil in response to relative motion between the magnet and the coil; and

a wireless transmission unit that wirelessly transmits information generated by the signal generating unit.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the moving part of the bicycle is a bicycle wheel.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the moving part of the bicycle is a bicycle crank.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein the magnet is structured to be mounted to the moving part of the bicycle.

5. The device according to claim 1 further comprising a rectifier that rectifies current provided by the coil in response to relative motion between the magnet and the coil.

6. The device according to claim 1 further comprising a voltage regulating element that regulates voltage provided by the coil in response to relative motion between the magnet and the coil.

7. The device according to claim 1 further comprising a housing that houses both the coil and the signal generating unit.

21. The device according to claim 1 wherein the first CPU generates information from the signal provided by the coil so that both operating power for the first CPU and the information generated by the first CPU are derived from the signal provided by the coil.

8. A bicycle information display apparatus comprising:

a magnet structured to be mounted to one of a first part and a moving part of a bicycle;

a coil structured to be mounted to the other one of the first part and the moving part of the bicycle to provide a signal in response to relative motion between the magnet and the coil;

a signal generating unit including a first CPU, wherein the first CPU operates using electrical power generated by the coil in response to relative motion between the magnet and the coil;

a wireless transmission unit that wirelessly transmits information generated by the signal generating unit;

a wireless receiving unit that receives information transmitted by the wireless transmission unit; and

a display unit that displays information received by the wireless receiving unit.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising a display control unit including a second CPU that converts the information received by the wireless receiving unit into the information displayed on the display unit.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the display control unit converts the information received by the wireless receiving unit into a riding parameter.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the riding parameter comprises bicycle speed.

12. The apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising a power supply that provides operating power to the display control unit.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the power supply comprises a power storage element.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the power supply comprises a solar cell.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the power supply further comprises a power storage element that stores electrical power generated by the solar cell.

16. The device according to claim 8 wherein the moving part of the bicycle is a bicycle wheel.

17. The device according to claim 8 wherein the moving part of the bicycle is a bicycle crank.

18. The device according to claim 8 wherein the magnet is structured to be mounted to the moving part of the bicycle.

19. The device according to claim 8 further comprising a rectifier that rectifies current provided by the coil in response to relative motion between the magnet and the coil.

20. The device according to claim 8 further comprising a voltage regulating element that regulates voltage provided by the coil in response to relative motion between the magnet and the coil.

22. The device according to claim 8 wherein the first CPU generates information from the signal provided by the coil so that both operating power for the first CPU and the information generated by the first CPU are derived from the signal provided by the coil.

23. The device according to claim 13 wherein the power supply comprises a non-battery power supply.

24. The device according to claim 8 wherein the signal generating unit and the wireless transmission unit are housed in a first housing, and wherein the wireless receiving unit and the display unit are housed in a second housing that is not wired to the first housing.